Newton v. County of Napa

In Newton v. County of Napa (1990) 217 Cal. App. 3d 1551, two armed, uniformed deputy sheriffs went to the plaintiffs' home along with welfare and probation personnel to investigate suspected abuse. (Newton, supra, 217 Cal. App. 3d at p. 1556.) Upon arrival, and without discussion or parental consent, they took the minor children into a bathroom, required them to disrobe, and inspected their bodies in a very intrusive manner for signs of abuse. (Ibid.) No signs of abuse were found. (Ibid.) The court appropriately rejected their efforts to invoke the Reporting Act to immunize their conduct in the children's home. Penal Code section 11172 protects the act of reporting. It does not confer broad immunity for all actions taken pursuant to the report.